South Africa has stormed into the final of the Women’s ODI World Cup for the first time, taking sweet revenge against England—the team that had ended their campaign in the semi-finals of the last two World Cups and had defeated them by 10 wickets in the group stage of this edition.
Nadine de Klerk’s slower delivery trapped England’s last batter Lynsey Smith at mid-off. South Africa erupted in celebration, rushing to hug their bowler. After heartbreak in Christchurch and Bristol, the moment South African fans had longed for finally arrived in Guwahati: South Africa is in the Women’s ODI World Cup final for the first time!
South Africa won the first semi-final by 125 runs. Batting first at Guwahati on Wednesday, they posted a massive 319, and Laura Wolvaardt’s team bowled out four-time champions England for 194.
In the past two editions, South Africa had lost at the semi-final stage to England. Earlier in this tournament, they had also suffered a 10-wicket defeat to the same team in the group stage. This time, however, they dominated England with bat and ball, exacting sweet revenge and earning a place on the championship stage.
The star of the victory was captain Laura Wolvaardt, who played a magnificent 169 off 143 balls with 20 fours and 4 sixes, earning the Player of the Match award.
The 26-year-old’s innings made history: it was the first century by a captain in a Women’s ODI World Cup knockout match, the second-highest by a captain in the tournament’s history, and the highest score by a South African in the World Cup.
Marizanne Kapp also made a huge impact. The 35-year-old pace-bowling all-rounder took 5 wickets for just 20 runs in 7 overs and contributed 42 off 33 balls with the bat.
Kapp achieved two five-wicket hauls in this edition—both against England in World Cups. Previously, only Lyn Fullston (Australia) and Anya Shrubsole (England) had managed two five-wicket hauls in World Cups.
Kapp also surpassed Jhulan Goswami (43) to become the highest wicket-taker in Women’s ODI World Cup history, now with 44 wickets.
She set the tone early, taking the wickets of Amy Jones and Heather Knight in the first over without conceding a run. On her second legitimate delivery, she dismissed Tammy Beaumont. England’s top three batters were all out for zero—a rare occurrence in World Cup history, and only the third time a team lost its first three wickets for just 1 run in this edition.
After the nightmare start, captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey rebuilt with a 107-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Once this partnership broke, England struggled to pass 30 in any other stand. Capsey departed for 50 off 71 balls, while Sciver-Brunt fell for 64 off 76 balls. Kapp completed her five-wicket haul in the very next over.
Lynsey Smith’s 36-ball 27 helped England avoid their biggest World Cup defeat; their previous largest margin was a 126-run loss to Australia in 1998.
The match began with a bang for South Africa. Batting first after losing the toss, Wolvaardt hit a four off the second ball, followed by regular boundaries. Tazmin Brits supported her as South Africa reached 58 without loss in the powerplay.
In the 15th over, Wolvaardt’s four off Sophie Ecclestone made her the sixth woman in ODI history to reach 5,000 runs, achieving a fifty in just 52 balls. The opening partnership ended at 116 runs with Brits departing for 45 off 65 balls (6 fours, 1 six). Aneka Bash fell for zero in the same over.
Wolvaardt and Kapp steadied the innings with a 72-run partnership for the fourth wicket, but England struck back, removing three batters quickly. Wolvaardt then scored her 10th ODI century in 115 balls and added 89 off 47 balls with Chloe Tryon for the seventh-wicket partnership, taking the total close to 300. Tryon remained 33 not out off 26 balls.
In the final 10 overs, South Africa lost just 2 wickets while scoring 117 runs, a total England could not match.
In the final, South Africa will face the winner of India vs Australia.
Match Summary
- South Africa: 319/7 in 50 overs
(Wolvaardt 169, Brits 45, Bash 0, Liss 1, Kapp 42, Sinalo 1, Darkesen 4, Tryon 33, de Klerk 11; Bell 10-0-55-2, Smith 10-0-69-0, Sciver-Brunt 8-0-67-1, Dean 10-0-67-0, Ecclestone 10-1-44-4, Capsey 2-0-15-0) - England: 194 in 42.3 overs
(Jones 0, Beaumont 0, Knight 0, Sciver-Brunt 64, Capsey 50, Wat-Hodge 34, Dunkley 2, Dean 0, Ecclestone 2, Smith 27, Bell 9*; Kapp 7-3-20-5, Khaka 8-0-28-1, de Klerk 5.3-0-24-2, Mhlaba 8-0-40-1, Liss 6-0-41-1, Tryon 8-0-41-0)
Result: South Africa won by 125 runs
Player of the Match: Laura Wolvaardt
